TRIP TO YANGON / Bro Peter Lim, AO Volunteer

This was my first time in Yangon. It is a city which is perhaps similar to what Kuala Lumpur was about 20-30 years ago. There are signs of development with shopping complexes and tall buildings in the downtown area. However, as one travels out of the city centre, it becomes immediately clear that the rest of the city is very much underdeveloped, and that there are many poor sections in the region surrounding Yangon.

My cousin works in Yangon and has been there for seven years. We met up for dinner. He has been and still is involved in helping unfortunate children. I learnt that there are ongoing internal conflicts in  the different states, and many children are sold by their parents for money or trafficked and sold as child labour to work in the city, for example, as restaurant helpers and cleaners. These children are locked away after work to prevent them from running away.

Christians make up less than 10% of the population which is predominantly Buddhist; temples and monks abound. The monks are venerated here. Even the very poor will give to them or to the monastery, something about karma I am told.

Myanmar is a country that very much needs to hear the Good News. Over a period of five days, I was privileged to be able to share with Ps John and his workers and Bible students about the God of the poor and needy, on Galatians and on parenting.

They were very much impacted by the scriptures that revealed how much our God loves the poor and needy, the orphans and widows. Our God delights in righteousness, justice and loving kindness

. Ps John shared with me that his eyes were opened to the God who is love. I suggested that we pack and distribute food to the very poor living nearby. This suggestion was enthusiastically embraced, and two days later it was carried out. The church cooked the food and packed 80 packets of rice with an egg and vegetables in each. The Bible students were excited. They felt good being able to give away food. This is the tangible demonstration of the love of God.

Packing food with the children helping out

      

With food packets in hand, ready to visit the poor

A poor family that we visited. The poor live in makeshift houses, some built over large natural drains filled with stagnant water

                                     

   

      

During the rainy season, dengue is a serious problem

In a way, I was  surprised when I was told that this was the first time that food distribution was done, especially as the poor are all around. Although saving souls is our top priority we need to use a more holistic approach and show love and compassion to those in need. Our Lord showed the way when He gave His life for all of humanity even though not all will accept Him. That is why it is important to not only fulfil the Great Commission but also the Great Commandment.

Matthew 22:36-40

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

We usually want to see results of salvation from the works that we do. Even when we give a packet of food to the poor we wait in expectation for them to accept the Good News of Jesus Christ. However, when they do not we are no longer interested in helping them. Ps John caught this truth when he said, “When we give the packet of food without strings attached, that is love (God’s kind of love - unconditional).” Ps John and his team are now committed for the next 12 months to distributing food packets monthly.

Ps John and his students were very open to the word of God. Many of these students will go back to their own villages to preach the Gospel and start churches. One of them was only 15 years of age.

Victor, Nancy and the children in the home

There are many children’s homes in Yangon due mainly to poverty where parents or single parents are unable to afford to raise their children, and for other reasons as well. I visited three of the homes which are under the supervision of Ps John. I gathered information on one in particular for possible sponsorship by AO. This children’s home is run by Victor and his wife Nancy. Victor himself grew up with his uncle, and he, therefore, has the heart to care for displaced children or orphans. When asked, many of these children have dreams of one day becoming a nurse, doctor, teacher, engineer, dentist, etc. They are so precious.

There is so much need in Myanmar and so much that needs to be and can be done. It is not merely a matter of contributing monetarily but walking with people like Ps John to reach out to and impact the community. This trip has enriched me personally as I have come to know a family of God in a distant country, a family that loves God and wishes to bring His love to others. I am looking forward to visiting them again to bring words of encouragement, and if you are reading this article, you can also do your part by making a short trip to Yangon to encourage our brothers and sisters over there. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

1 John 3: 18

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and truth.”